Research as a process
Research as a discipline
Scientific research is done to test ideas about the nature and operation of some aspects of the universe. Those who claim that their remedy works, or is better or no worse than some other remedy, are usually asked to show the evidence for their claim. Similarly, those who claim that a particular diet is healthier should show evidence in support of their claim. Those who argue that a particular program of driver education will reduce the number of road accidents are asked to present their evidence. We engage in research to settle conflicting claims or differences of opinion or to test an idea. Take the following simple case.
Mary: The fastest way to drive from Preston to Leeds is to use the motorway.
Frank: No way! It’s much further than the direct route and there are likely to be delayed because of motorway repairs.
The conflict between Mary and Frank can be settled by research. They both have ‘theories’ about the fastest way to drive from Preston to Leeds. We suspect that you could probably design a piece of research to test these theories. Research is the disciplined way we come to know what we know. Research is one way of knowing.
Research As the Way of Knowing
Research as Process
To do research is to be involved in a process. A process can be seen as a series of linked activities moving from a beginning to an end. The research process is not a rigid process.
A rigid process is one in which Step A must be done and completed before Step B can begin. On the other hand, there is a sense in which, if the first steps are not executed carefully, the rest of the research process will be weakened or made more difficult.
We have chosen a particular way of describing the research process because it seems to us to help students to learn the necessary skills and, if followed, to prevent many of the major pitfalls in research. We do not see this way as the only way, just one useful way.
The research process can be outlined as follows:
Research as the way of knowing. There are three main phases in the research process
Phase 1: in this phase, the researcher clarifies the issue to be researched and selects a research method. This is the essential first step of research.
Phase 2: the second phase is related to data collection. In this phase, the researcher collects evidence about the research question.
Phase 3: This phase is related to analysis and interpretation. In this phase, the researcher relates the evidence collected to the research question, draws a conclusion about the research question, and acknowledges the limitation of the research.
Phase 1: Essential and first steps
- Selecting, narrowing, and formulating the problem to be studied.
- Selecting a research design.
- Designing and devising measures for variables
- Setting up tables for analysis
- Selecting a sample
Remember the argument between Mary and Frank about which route between Preston and Leeds was faster? Both Frank and Mary had a hunch or a ‘theory’ about which route was faster. We will devise a piece of research to test their theories. What must be done in Phase 1?
First, we need to focus on the question:
- Are normal or special cars to be used?
- Are cars to be driven by normal or specially trained drivers?
- Are speed limits to be observed? One route may be faster only if the speed limit is exceeded.
- At what time of the day, on which day of the week do we want to do this?
- Will we be satisfied with a single test or will more than one be required? How many?
- Will any other routes be considered?
- Will any allowances be made for time lost due to an accident, breakdown, or road hazard (like a stone through the windscreen)?
There are doubtless other questions that would have to be asked if we were to do this seriously. But let us say that we decided to run the test on one Friday afternoon in May with two equally matched drivers and cars starting at Preston Town Hall with instructions to keep all road safety laws. The first car to arrive at Leeds Town Hall will be declared to have taken the faster route.
Now the first part of this little piece of research has been completed. The research question has been clarified and narrowed. It is no longer what the faster route from Preston to Leeds is, but which is the faster route from Preston Town Hall to Leeds Town Hall on a specific Friday afternoon in May. The variables have been defined and measured. Car A or Car B will arrive first. Car A will have gone via the motorway. Car B will have gone via ordinary roads. The variable is which car arrives first, A or B. For the first test, a single run is acceptable.
Now that all this has been clarified, it is possible to move on to the next phase in the research process, Phase 2: data collection.
Phase 2: Data Collection
- Collecting data
- Summarizing and organizing data
While many have the impression that data collection is the major enterprise in research, this is not strictly correct. Preparation, Phase 1, takes the most time, and drawing conclusions and writing the report takes more time than data collection in most cases. Data collection itself takes the least time. You will learn this for yourself as you engage in research.
Returning to our homely example, we can see that collecting data for this research involves two cars driving from the town hall in Preston to the town hall in Leeds on a given Friday afternoon in May. The data to be collected will be that either Car A arrived first or Car B arrived first, or that they arrived together. Such data pose no problems of summarization or of organization.
Once data have been collected and organized you are ready for the last phase of research, Phase 3.
In Phase 3 you relate the data collected to the research question and draw conclusions. It is really quite simple if you can keep the research problem under control.
Phase 3: Analysis and interpretation of Data
- Relating data to the research question
- Drawing conclusion
- Assessing the limitation of the study
- Making suggestions for further research.
For the sake of continuing our example, let us say that Car A arrived in Leeds a full thirty minutes before Car B. What would you conclude? Whose theory would have a piece of data supporting it, Mary’s or Frank’s? Whose theory would be seriously questioned as a result of the evidence produced by this bit of research?
You may be able to see some limitations or shortcomings in our study. It applies only to one Friday in May under certain conditions. Only one trial was made. The outcome might have been the result of an accident that held up traffic for three-quarters of an hour. Different drivers, cars, or days might produce different results.
Think of some other limitations which should be included in the research report. Propose another piece of research that would answer some of the questions that remain after the bit of research just done. For example, the same trial could be done on different days, or more often.
Scientific research is a process by which questions are sharpened or focused; a process by which data are gathered in such a way that we can begin to answer the questions we asked. You can probably also see how having completed one piece of research, you are usually led to more questions and more research. This is another way in which research is a continuous process. The end of one project is often the beginning of the next.
Research as a discipline will be discussed in the next blog!
